Getty Owl Foundation

Slowing Down

From Kate:

It is amazing what you recognize in life when you slow your life completely down. Mark and I both have careers that have the ability to drain you mentally and physically. We find them to be extremely rewarding, but now being home with Getty I am recognizing that perhaps my career has had the potential to keep me from really getting to know my child. All of Getty’s little nuances seem to be so apparent when I don’t have the stresses of work weighing on my shoulders.

She smiles for all different reasons. She smiles when she wakes up from a nap. I think she is just so excited to start a new day. She smiles before and after she eats. We excercise her legs and arms to get circulation and she is beaming from ear to ear. And most heart warming is when she notices you in the room and she gives you a coy smile just to let you know that she sees you.

Caring for Getty has become a family affair and we are so fortunate to have my mom and dad here to give her all kinds of love.

So here we are at the end of the day, sitting on the couch as a family watching the Cowboys play. We just ate dinner, we are here as a family and life is good.

If I have learned anything in this past week since we found out about Getty’s diagnosis it would be to “slow the heck down.” The old saying life is short, literally takes on a new meaning for my family and we are so fortunate and honored to be able to have Getty in our lives. She is unconditional, gracious, and just one cool little girl. Mark and I have already learned so much from her… More than any career could have offered.

Lasagna!

Supermodel

From Kate:

I think we have a little model on our hands. This morning we took lots of family pictures at the park. Morgan from Hale Photography took some incredible pictures of our family. I cannot wait to see how they turn out. Miss Getty sure knows how to “ham” it up. When we receive them I will add a few to the website. We made another appointment for mid September, so I am already looking forward to that.

I put Getty down for a nap in her crib. Our usual ritual is to turn her mobile on for a few minutes. The animals seem to be her little rainforest friends. There is a monkey, frog, and a parrot that circulate around her head. She loves to talk to them. Sometimes she gets a little bossy and seems to yell at them. It is so cute to hear. I wonder where she gets that from.

I peaked in on her just to see if she was sleeping and she was wide awake and smiling. What a sweetheart. We locked eyes for a little and then her eyelids grew very heavy. Goodnight sweet owl.

A Lovely Package

From Kate:

It has been a week since the neurologist diagnosed our sweet little Getty. It is amazing to think we have only been on this journey for such a short time.

My head felt very heavy today. Just racing thoughts really that I couldn’t seem to shake. We were getting ready to take a trip to Grammy’s house and I noticed two packages on the porch. One was from my dear friend Takoa and her sweet children. Getty and I thank you for such thoughtful gifts. Bath time will be even more fun now.

Another package was a huge box from the Families of SMA organization. It was a care package with tons of fun stuff for Getty. Pillows, toys, blankets, etc. Such a thoughtful thing to do for us. There were letters written to Getty and us with heartfelt wishes and comfort. I am just blown away by their generosity.

You know a week ago if someone asked me what FSMA was I would have looked at them with a puzzled look and said no. Today, in a weeks time I would say that they have become an extension of our family and friends. What great people fighting for what they believe in, their kids.

Thank you all for your wonderful words of support. Mark, Getty and I are so fortunate to have the love of our family, friends, and the generosity of complete strangers. There is so much love in the world. We are all so touched.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

From Kate:
Well I certainly know where Getty got her love of naps. The two of us snuggled next to each other this afternoon for a hardy three-hour nap. Watching her sleep makes my heart just melt. She looks so peaceful.

Baby Leyton came to visit along with his mommy Stacey. We took a nice walk around the park. It was nice to get out and have company. Thanks Stac.

Last night I got a chance to read the guest book and although I cried, it was not a cry of sadness, it was a cry of joy. It is amazing to me that our little girl has had and will continue to have such an impact in people’s lives like she has on us.

Getty came into this world with laughter and curiosity. She has always seemed to me to have an old soul. A wet diaper or slight hunger never seemed to bother her because she knew we would take care of it. She seems to live by the motto, “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Just one happy little baby.